Reverend Father Lawrence Richard HeitkeReverend Father Lawrence Richard Heitke entered eternal life on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 atthe age of 77, at his home in the Town of Rome, Wisconsin. He was born on January 25, 1941 inWisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, and is predeceased by his parents, Clarence and Irmina Mary (Beckius)Heitke and his sister, Norma Jean (Heitke) Borman. After attending St. Mary grade school in Portage, Wisconsin, Father Heitke entered Queen of Apostles Seminary, Madison, Wisconsin. He studied Philosophy and Theology at St. John Seminary,Collegeville, Minnesota, where he graduated with a B.A. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell May 20, 1967 at St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison.Father Heitke began serving the Diocese of Madison as Parochial Vicar of St. Aloysius Parish, Sauk City; St. Patrick Parish, Janesville, and St. Joseph Parish, Fort Atkinson. He was appointed Chaplainat Oakhill State Correctional Institute, Oregon, WI and Chaplain at the William S. Middleton Memorial Medical Center Veterans Hospital, from which he resigned in 1998. During his years of service to theDiocese of Madison, Father Heitke served as a help-out priest at St. William Parish, Paoli; Priest ofthe Worldwide Marriage Encounter Team; Diocesan Chaplain for the Catholic Committee on Scouting;Chaplain of the Dominic Club, and Chaplain for the Lake Mills Eagles, Police Department, andKnights of Columbus. He also ministered at the Badger Prairie Health Care Center, Verona; the Lady of Guadalupe Mission, Endeavor; the Sand Ridge Secured Treatment Center, part of the ColumbiaCounty Prison System, Mauston, and Philmont Scout Ranch Chaplain, New Mexico.His personal interests included hunting and fishing with his friends, participating in the annual Governor’s Fishing Open, photography, stamp collecting, scouting and supporting the Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers. In retirement, some friends helped him create “Fishing with the Padre”, a nonprofit venture for fisher people with challenges.He entered eternal life February 28, 2018. He was a good son and a good brother, loving Uncle and will be missed by many.He is survived by his sister, Beverly Heitke, SDS, his brothers Lester (Cherie) Heitke and Louis (Tia) Heitke, his brother-in-law James Borman, several nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 309 W. Cook Street, Portage, on Saturday, March 3, 2018, at 11:30 a.m. MostReverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, will be the main celebrant with Reverend Gary Krahenbuhl as homilist. Visitation at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church will be held on Saturday, March 3rd, from 10:00 am until the start of Holy Mass. Interment at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Portage, will follow. A funeral luncheon will follow immediately after burial.